City Council - Zoning & Community Development Representative

Company Description

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Agency Description

Councilmember Jamie R. Gauthier has represented Philadelphia’s 3rd Councilmanic District since January 6, 2020. Since then, Councilmember Gauthier and her team have worked hard to build a 3rd District Council office that prioritizes direct engagement with residents, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, shared decision-making with our constituents, the centering of the most vulnerable among us, passion for our work, and fun. Internally, we have strived to foster an environment of empowerment, where each team member provides ideas and input, enabling us to make decisions with our constituents' best interests in mind. We now invite interested individuals to apply for the integral role of our team’s Zoning & Community Development Representative.

Job Description

Job summary 

The Zoning & Community Development Representative reports to the Director of Equitable Development. This role is the primary point of contact for constituent-related matters on these topics and supports the Director in crafting and implementing an equitable development agenda for the 3rd District. 

Equitable development is achieved when quality of life outcomes, such as affordable housing, quality education, living wage employment, healthy environments, and transportation are equitably experienced by the people currently living and working in a neighborhood, as well as for new people moving in. It also promotes public and private investments, programs, and policies in neighborhoods that meet the needs of residents and reduce racial disparities, taking into account past history and current conditions. Under the guidance of the Councilmember and the Director of Equitable Development, the Z&CD Representative will work towards the above-stated goals for the benefit of residents and communities in the 3rd District. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• Equitable Development part-time team members and interns. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Manage, record, & resolve constituent inquiries regarding topics including but not limited to property research, zoning and building construction related code enforcement, public infrastructure, vacant land acquisition, zoning permits and hearings, City land disposition, traffic and transportation, and other questions related to land use, development, and planning. The Z&CD Representative will be responsible for comprehensive and compassionate one-on-one communication with constituents, prompt follow up and responsiveness, and thorough tracking of steps taken to close each inquiry to help the office learn how to better serve. 

• Enter and track data on all constituent cases assigned to the Equitable Development team, using City Council’s ASAP online database as well as other databases.  

• Represent the office at community meetings, particularly those related to zoning matters in the District, and organize and conduct outreach for public meetings of our own in partnership with relevant City departments.   

• Observe and testify at relevant public boards & commission hearings including Zoning Board of Adjustment, Civic Design Review, Land Bank, & Historical Commission. Provide testimony, monitor outcomes, and prepare constituents for effective participation.  

• Develop & implement the office’s RCO engagement strategy, including technical assistance, ongoing communication with RCO leaders, and early coordination on zoning matters to foster transparency & trust. 

• Act as community liaison by developing and implementing strategies to solicit community input on zoning and development issues, educate the community on their rights and our office’s services, developing and maintaining relationships with key community leaders, and attending important community forums and events.  

• Design, coordinate, & lead engagement strategies for zoning re-mappings, major development proposals, commercial corridor support, and public infrastructure improvement. Work with team to organize & facilitate community meetings, workshops, & inter-governmental agency sessions to ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to participate in planning processes. 

• Assist with research and policy analysis on topics related to housing, zoning and development. These topics include but are not limited to zoning best practices, the preservation and creation of affordable housing, community land sovereignty, equitable tax policy and protecting residents against displacement. Recent legislative examples include mandatory inclusionary zoning, the Public Land for Public Benefit bill, the People’s Preservation Package, and the Defying Displacement campaign. Create maps, databases, memos, and other tools needed to make strategic and informed decisions on policy, City land disposition, zoning re-mappings, and budgeting priorities. 

• Create and disseminate email newsletters with updates related to Equitable Development, Zoning and Planning, and work to actively grow the list of subscribers. 

• Lead meetings and nurture professional working relationships with City agencies, local nonprofits, Registered Community Organizations, civic associations, property owners, and other interested groups around development and public infrastructure in the 3rd District. 

• Work with Constituent Services team to draft clear and visually compelling instructional materials to assist West and Southwest Philadelphians on topics such as zoning advocacy, code enforcement, and land acquisition.  

• Collaborate on projects related to small business and commercial corridor support and engagement, depending on priority and need.  

• Support council committees chaired by the Councilmember as needed, with likely tasks including legislative planning, hearing logistics, and recruiting panel participants based on subject matter expertise.  

• Assist Director of Equitable Development with general administrative tasks. 

• Assist the 3rd Councilmanic team with shared tasks, which includes answering the phone, participating and staffing legislative hearings. 

• Participate in a weeknight and weekend staffing rotation as needed to ensure broad representation at key neighborhood meetings & events. Average time commitment to expect is approximately 1-2 evening meetings per week and one weekend meeting every 6-8 weeks. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Skills and Abilities: 

• Considerable knowledge of community and economic development; knowledge of business development a strong plus. 

• Knowledge of municipal zoning and infrastructure, and planning programs and processes. 

• Demonstrated commitment, through work or volunteer experience, to social justice. 

• Cultural competency and proven ability to work in a culturally diverse environment. 

• Significant experience working with diverse constituencies, from public officials and executives, to grassroots organizations and community members. 

• Ability to communicate effectively to groups and individuals, engineers, architects, contractors, developers, businesses, supervisors, employees, and the general public. 

• Ability to establish working relationships with other organizations and community development practitioners. 

• Ability to regularly attend night and weekend events. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 

• Excellent judgement and analytical skills. 

• Knowledge of Philadelphia and communities of the 3rd Council District.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required. Master's degree in urban planning or a closely related field strongly preferred. One to three years of work experience. 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Please send resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to mariya.khandros@phila.gov with the subject line Application for Zoning & Community Development Representative by 9/30/2026. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.

Salary Range: $60,000

Work-Life: 

Average work week is 40 hours/week, however all staff take part in a weekday and weekend staffing rotation for the Councilperson, and maintain flexibility for occasional unscheduled after-hours events. 

Staff are expected to be in person at least 4 days a week, with availability to work five days a week if needed or requested. 

Physical Requirements: 

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Long periods of sitting at office desk. 

• Some lifting, bending, reaching, standing or walking. 

• Occasional periods of standing and walking at events. 

• Reasonable accommodations can be grated in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

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• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
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Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx